Pages

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed Wednesday that the government should not interfere with religious groups’ internal affairs in the case of a disgruntled former employee of a Lutheran school.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion for Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that allowing the EEOC’s anti-discrimination lawsuit violated the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment.

"Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs," Roberts wrote. "By imposing an unwanted minister, the state infringes the Free Exercise Clause, which protects a religious group's right to shape its own faith and mission through its appointments."The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed on Wednesday that the government should not interfere with religious groups’ internal affairs in the case of a disgruntled former employee of a Lutheran school.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion for Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that allowing the EEOC’s anti-discrimination lawsuit violated the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment.

"Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs," Roberts wrote. "By imposing an unwanted minister, the state infringes the Free Exercise Clause, which protects a religious group's right to shape its own faith and mission through its appointments."

The 9-0 ruling in favor of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church is a huge relief for religious freedom proponents. To read more, click here.